PS3 Informer

Operation Flashpoint: Red River Gameplay Video

The previous game in the Operation Flashpoint franchise, Dragon Rising, didn't earn many fans among console gamers. Representing Codemasters first foray into the potentially lucrative world of realistic military first-person shooters, Dragon Rising fell flat and failed to gain the rabid fanbase enjoyed by more successful titles like Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops.

But never ones to shy away from a challenge, the plucky lads from Codemasters are back for another go, and this time they promise to make good on their efforts.

Operation Flashpoint: Red River is the name of Codemasters' second kick at the can, coming this year for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

The game's story will concern a fictional conflict in 2013 in the breakaway ex-soviet territory of Tajikistan. When a civil war breaks out, the US Marine Corps move in to deal with it. However, the People's Liberation Army, of neighboring China, become suspicious. When they order the Marines to leave, they refuse, and the world's next flashpoint erupts.

According to the developers, Red River will be a tactical first person shooter, similar to its predecessor. The player will have the option of playing the campaign co-operatively. However, the game will not feature competitive multiplayer. The player will be able to choose between four classes of Marines to play as, rifleman, grenadier, scout and automatic rifleman, each with their own weapons and abilities. As in other recent console shooters, the player will gain experience during gameplay, which can be used to unlock guns, attachments and perks. For example, the scout class can acquire an enhancement that will reduce the amount of bullet drop.

The game's director Sion Lenton is optimistic for the game's appeal, saying "Operation Flashpoint: Red River is being built around four player co-op online play, complete with a strong narrative, new enemies and combat scenarios to deliver gameplay that immerses players in the reality of war like never before".

With so much money potentially riding on the success of this franchise, we're certain that Codemasters would very much like that to be true.